Method and system for controlling actuation of flush apparatus

Abstract

A method of controlling actuation of a flush apparatus includes the steps of configuring a control module to actuate the flush apparatus for completing a flushing cycle periodically; and after a given unused time period of the flush apparatus, enabling the control module to enter into a sleep mode to stop an actuation of the flush apparatus. Therefore, during the rush hours, the control module is configured to actuate the flush apparatus frequently and during the off rush hours, the control module is configured to actuate the flush apparatus seldom.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method controlling actuation of a flush apparatus for a flushing system, comprising the steps of:
 (a) programming a flush interval, as a time interval, in a control module, remotely configured, that at every said flush interval, said flush apparatus is automatically and periodically actuated, independently to a presence of a user, to flush said flushing system until a flushing cycle thereof is completed by moving said flush apparatus from an opened position to a closed position, wherein said flush apparatus is powered by an electric motor and is actuated by the steps of: 
 generating a rotational power by said electric motor to drive an actuator to rotate, wherein said actuator is downwardly and rotatably extended from said electric motor; 
 via said rotational power from said electric motor, rotating said actuator from a first contacting surface to an opposed second contacting surface that when said second contacting surface of said actuator contacts with a valve stopper to move said flush apparatus to said opened position from said closed position; and 
 rotating said actuator by said rotational power back to its original position that said first contacting surface of said actuator contacts with said valve stopper to move said flush apparatus from said opened position back to said closed position; 
 (b) stop actuating said flush apparatus after a given unused time period of said flush apparatus; 
 (c) enabling said flush apparatus to be actuated manually at any time by actuating a flush lever to push a valve member aside so as to move said flush apparatus to said opened position from said closed position, wherein said valve stopper is sat on said valve member, wherein said flush lever is pivotally moved to push said valve member for manually actuating said flush apparatus. 
 
     
     
       2. The method, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the step (b) further comprises the steps of entering said control module into a sleeping mode after said given unused time period and actuating said flush apparatus to complete the flushing cycle before said control module enters into said sleep mode. 
     
     
       3. The method, as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising the steps of:
 operatively linking an activation sensor to said control module; 
 during said sleep mode, re-activating said control module to actuate said flush apparatus to complete the flushing cycle in response to the presence of the user via said activation sensor, and 
 re-starting said unused time period after said flushing cycle is completed to start counting down said unused time period. 
 
     
     
       4. The method, as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising a step of configuring water volume being used for completing the flushing cycle. 
     
     
       5. The method, as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising a default step of selectively setting said control module between a normal flush mode and a timer flush mode, wherein in said normal flush mode, said flush apparatus is actuated in response to the presence of the user of said flush apparatus, wherein in said timer flush mode, said flush apparatus is actuated periodically, such that said normal flush mode is a sensor-actuated mode and said timer flush mode is a non-sensor-actuated mode. 
     
     
       6. The method, as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 operatively linking an activation sensor to said control module; 
 during said sleep mode, re-activating said control module to actuate said flush apparatus to complete the flushing cycle in response to the presence of the user via said activation sensor, and 
 re-starting said unused time period after said flushing cycle is completed to start counting down said unused time period. 
 
     
     
       7. The method, as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a step of configuring water volume being used for completing the flushing cycle. 
     
     
       8. The method, as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a default step of selectively setting said control module between a normal flush mode and a timer flush mode, wherein in said normal flush mode, said flush apparatus is actuated in response to the presence of the user of said flush apparatus, wherein in said timer flush mode, said flush apparatus is actuated periodically, such that said normal flush mode is a sensor-actuated mode and said timer flush mode is a non-sensor-actuated mode, wherein said flush lever is able to be manually actuated when said control module is set at either said normal flush mode or said timer flush mode. 
     
     
       9. A flush apparatus for a flushing system, comprising:
 an electric motor for generating a rotational power; 
 a relief valve for flushing said flushing system until a flushing cycle thereof is completed by moving said flush apparatus from an opened position to a closed position, wherein said relief valve is powered by said electric motor and is actuated manually and automatically via a sensor in response to a presence of a user, wherein said relief valve comprises a valve member, a valve stopper sat on said valve member, and an actuator which has a first contacting surface and an opposed contacting surface, being driven to rotate by said rotational power of said electric motor to move said relief valve between said opened position and said closed position, wherein said actuator is downwardly and rotatably extended from said electric motor, wherein when said actuator is rotated that said second contacting surface of said actuator contacts with said valve stopper, said relief valve is moved at said opened position, when said actuator is rotated that said first contacting surface of said actuator contacts with said valve stopper, said relief valve is moved at said closed position, wherein when said valve member is moved aside, said relief valve is moved from said closed position to said opened position; 
 a flush lever being manually actuated pivotally at any time to push said valve member so as to move said flush apparatus to said opened position from said closed position; and 
 a control device which comprises a control module remotely configured with a flush interval, as a time interval, that at every said flush interval, said flush apparatus is automatically and periodically actuated independently to a presence of a user. 
 
     
     
       10. The flush apparatus, as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said control device further comprises an activation sensor operatively linked to said control module for enabling said control module to enter into a sleep mode to stop an actuation of said relief valve after a given unused time period of said flush apparatus, wherein, during said sleep mode, said sensor is deactivated and said activation sensor is activated for detecting the presence of the user in order to re-activate said control module and to re-start said unused time period, wherein said activation sensor is not arranged for activating said relief valve, wherein said flush lever is able to be manually actuated at said sleep mode. 
     
     
       11. The flush apparatus, as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said control device further comprises a control panel operatively linked to said control module to set a time interval in said control module to actuate said relief valve periodically. 
     
     
       12. The flush apparatus, as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said control panel comprises a volume control switch for selectively configuring water volume being used for completing the flushing cycle. 
     
     
       13. A control device for a flush apparatus having a sensor, a manual flush lever, and an electric motor to complete a flushing cycle for a flushing system, comprising:
 a control module with a flush interval, as a time interval, remotely configured for automatically activating the electric motor to actuate said flush apparatus, wherein at every said flush interval, said flush apparatus is automatically and periodically actuated, independently to a presence of a user, to flush said flushing system until a flushing cycle thereof is completed by moving said flush apparatus from an opened position to a closed position, wherein said flushing cycle is adapted for being started via a manual operation of the manual flush lever at any time by pivotally actuating the manual flush lever; 
 an activation sensor operatively linked to said control module, wherein, in response to said activation sensor, said control module enters into a sleep mode to stop an actuation of said flush apparatus after a given unused time period of said flush apparatus, wherein, during said sleep mode, said activation sensor is activated for detecting the presence of the user in order to re-activate said control module and to re-start said unused time period, wherein said activation sensor is activated to start counting down said unused time period after a detection of the presence of the user and is not arranged for activating the electric motor to flush said flushing system; and 
 a control center which comprises a wireless transmitter wirelessly connected to a wireless receiver of said control module through Internet to remotely control said control module so as to selectively adjust said time interval thereof, wherein said control center is configured to wirelessly set said control module between a normal flush mode and a timer flush mode, wherein at said flush mode, said activation sensor is deactivated for enabling the flushing system to be independently actuated via the sensor of the flush apparatus in response to a presence of the user, wherein at said timer flush mode, said activation sensor is activated for actuating the flushing system in a timer manner while the sensor of the flush apparatus is deactivated. 
 
     
     
       14. The control device, as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising a control panel operatively linked to said control module to set a time interval in said control module to actuate said relief valve periodically. 
     
     
       15. The control device, as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said control panel comprises a volume control switch for selectively configuring water volume being used for completing the flushing cycle.